Rail-joint



(No Model.)

RERDMANN. RAIL JOINT.

No. 596,105. Patented Deo. 28,1897.

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FRANK ERDMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,105, dated December 28, 1897. Application filed September 17, 1897. Serial No. 652,005. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK ERDMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient Y device adapted to be readily applied to the ends of rails and capable of securely connecting and clamping the same without necessitating the employment of bolts or similar fastening devices for engaging the rails at the webs thereof and for securing them tothe fish-plates.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a rail-joint constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the hinged sections of the rail-joint. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the rails.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

l l designate two similar sections adapted to engage the adjacent end of two rails 2, at opposite sides thereof, and each comprising a base-plate 3 and an integral fish-plate 4, angular in cross-section and conforming to the configuration of the rails and forming an inner recess 5 to receive the bottom flanges The fish-plate 5 connects with the base-plate at a point between the side edges thereof, preferably slightly inside the center, and leaving an outer projecting portion or flange which is provided with spike-receiving perforations 6.

The inner edge 7 of the bottom plate is inwardly beveled at opposite sides of the center, as shown, and each plate is provided adjacent to the center with a pair of perforated ears 8, which register and which receive or ears 8 to enable the latter, which are rounded, to turn freely.

The iish-plates 4 are provided at their inner faces with sockets l0, arranged at intervals and adapted to receive lugs 11, projecting from opposite sides of the webs of the rails and designed to be constructed in any suitable manner.

In applying the rail-joint tov the rails it is introduced on one of them by inserting the rail in it and sliding it longitudinally thereof, the rail being lifted sufficiently to permit the sections to open partially -in order that the sh-plates may clear the projections or lugs of the web of the rail. The other rail is then brought opposite the rail having the device, which is adjusted to bring the sockets opposite the projections or lugs. When the rails are lowered upon the cross-ties or other supports, the device is automatically closed, causing the projections or lugs to interlock with the sockets of the fish-plates and firmly connecting the rails without necessitating the employment of bolts and nuts.

The device when spiked to the cross-ties or other supports is rmly locked in engagement with the rails and securely clamps them.

The device may be readily removed from the rails by withdrawing the fastening devices and lifting the rails slightly and sliding the device on one of the rails. This frees the other rail, and by removing it from alinement with the rail having the device the latter may be readily taken off of the same.

The invention hasthe following'advantages: The rail-joint is simple, strong, and durable, it is comparatively inexpensive in construction, and it is capable of enabling the ends of rails to be positively and securely connected without employing bolts and nuts. The spikes or other fastening devices employed for securing the device to the cross-ties also serve to retain the fish-plates in their engagement with the rails.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor IOO details of construction may be resorted to l. In a rail-joint, the combination with rails, of two sections hinged together at their bottoms, engaging the rails at opposite sides thereof and adapted to rest directly upon the cross-ties or other supports, and fastening devices passing through the sections, securing the same to the cross-ties and also serving to lock the sections in engagement with the rails, substantially as described.

2. In arail-joint,the combination with rails, of two sections comprising base-plates extending beneath the rails, hinged together at their adjacent edges and adapted to rest directly upon the cross-ties, and ish-plates rigid with the base-plates and adapted to engage the rails, said 'base-plates being adapted to be secured to the cross-ties by spikes or similar fastening devices, whereby the fish-plates are retained in their engagement with the rails, substantially as described.

In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails provided with lugs or projections extending from their webs, of two sections comprising bottom plates hinged together at their inner edges, and rigid fish-plates conforming to the coniguration of the rails and provided with sockets for the reception of the lugs or projections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

fi. A rail-joint comprising two hinged sections composed of base-plates, and rigid fishplates conforming to the configuration of and adapted to clamp the rails, said fish-plates being connected with the base-plates between the side edges thereof and the outer portions of the base-plates forming flanges and adapted to be spiked or otherwise secured to crossties, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK ERDMANN.

` Witnesses:

GEO. T. KNOX, L. KLENMYER. 

